Variable-volume heating system.



E. GOLD. VARIABLE VOLUME HEATING SYSTEM.

` rrLloA'rIon Pimp nov.14, 100s. 929,934.

l E,y H, GOLD. VARIABLE VDLUME HEATING SYSTEM.

y APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1908. 929,934.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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.3. H. GOLD.

VARIABLE VULUME HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLIoATIpN IILEVD Nov.14. 190s.

929,934. Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

i 35 either to maintain u, respect the invention is ITED s'rA'riis PATENT OFFICE.

EGBERT n. GOLD, or CHICAGO, IL'LInoIs."I

VARIABLE-VOLUME HEATING SYSTEM.

nascose/1.

Specification of Letters Patent, Application filed November 14, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909,

Serial No. 462 ,693.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Eonnnr Il. GOLD, a citizen ol' the United States, residing at Chicago', in the county oi Coo.: and State oi' Illinois, have invented certain new and usel'ul li'. proveniente in Variahle-Voluine Heatof which the following is4 a- `ing Systems,

specification.

My invention relates to a heating system 1o particularly adapted for use upon railway cars, though capable oi' em loyinent in other connections, ol the genera ty 'ie of heating s vstein in which the heating l'luid is taken iroin a high pressure source and circulated 'p15 through the radiator at a constant, lower A principal object of the invention is to .provide means of steam or other heating medium to the' V radiator that thevoluine or quantity of the for so controlling the supply heating medium in the radiator may be varied at will, so as to .partially `or com pletely lill the radiating pipes, as may be desired, and, at the same time, to obtain a la` `perfect control of the amount ol' steam introduced.`

-The invention Ahas i'or a further object toy provide suchnieans with regulating devices )y which the amount oi Vsteam supplied to V the radiator may be varied either arbitrarily or in accordance with the temperature outside ol' the heating system.

,'lhevinvention has 'lor a l'urtliei object to provide a system ,which mayJ be operated V the radiator Aliill of steam at atmospheric pressure or, when desired, to iiiaiiitain in the radiator an amount ol steaiii insufficient to lill the saine while, at the saine time, obtaining the accurate control oi the 40 inflow which has been attained by systems wlii ieniaintaiii the pipes full of steam at at y sliei'io pressure by ilo'jiy accordance with thermostat-ic condi- ,tions near the outlet ofthe radiator.- In `this in the nature oi an improvement upon or nii'idiiication ol' the we l-linown vapor system shown iii iny Patent No. 758,436, granted April 26, 12104.

`rlflie invention has for a l'uitlier object to provide ineans in such a heating systeinl'or `keeping the controlling thermostat, or equivalent device, which is ordinarily located in' a relatively exposed, cold place, inf coii zetant or ircqueiit contact with suflicient'liot /'luid to'liocp it .l'roiii freezing' even when only vertical, sectional tion I have shown controlling the iii-.-

small amounts oi' steam are being supplied to the radiatpr.

The invention has for further objects such new and improved arrangements, constructions and devices in heating'systems, and particularly in car heating systems, as will be described in the following s eciiication and particularly claimed in the c aims appended thereto.

The invention, in a ty ical and preferred embodiment, is illustrate in the accompanying drawings, in whiuiliiigure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation oithe a whole; and Fig. 2 is* a view through theeontiolling thermostat and associated parts. Fig. 3 is a'dfetailed view ol mechanism for thermoheating system as statically operating the valve D.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures oi' the drawings. A. represents the supply or train pipe, which ordinarily runs the length of the trai and is connected with ,the locomotive, and

which carries steam at high but frequently 'varying pressure.

B is the radiator, which, for convenience of illustration, is shown as a simple coil of pipes. Any form of radiator oi' system ol' radiators or radiating pipes might be employed.

C is a controller *which may` be oi any lordinary type. For purposes ol' illustrathe form cl' therinostatic controller d'sclosed in my co-pending applin cation Serial No. 426,718.. provided witlia high pressure chamber 3,

'which isf connected to train pipe A by the ,containing the thermostat 1.2 and its operating rod.

The operation oi' the parts, when the con trollei constitutes a vapor, is familiar. `The steam enters chamber 3 passes by valve 8,

when the latter is open, through pipe 15 into the radiator B, where it circulates, we will This device ris lll 0 A discharge pipe iio4 greater or less extent of valve y8 and the consequent admission of small amounts of steam sufficient to ykeep the radiator full of live steam.

G is a valve interposed at any convenient point between the effective radiatin surface andthe thermostatic member of t e reguinvention as .defined by lator C.

H indicates any desired form of thermostatic steam trap.

According to the present invention, I provide adjustable means for retarding the fiow of steam into the radiator, when it is desired that a volume of steam be maintained therein insufficient to fill the same, thus obtaining an amount of heat less thancan be obtained by the operation of the system as a vaporsystem. Preferably I provide in the pipe 15 a throttle valve of any desired ty e, conventionally represented in Fig. 1 by which ma be either set by hand or may be contro led by a thermostat of any ordinary type, the latter being by E, or may be adjusted by hand and then thermostatically operated. Supposing the radiator to have been filled with steam and valve D operated so as to throttle the How through ipe 15. The automatic controller C will be t rown out of operation, because no steam will pass to thermostat 12 through pi e 16. In et valve 8 will then stand open, al owing full train pipe pressure with its variations, or at least a very high pressure, to reach valve D. To meet this, I provide the system with means for controlling the inflow to pipe 15 in accordance with pressure conditions in the high pressure part of' the same between the pressure reducing device C and valve D. This means is shown as consisting of what I term a controlling circuit F, leading from pipe l5 to the thermostat chamber 17. In order to regulate and adjust the flow to the controlling circuit, a pressure operated and preferably adjustable valve G is interposed in this-circuit.v This valve may be located in a valve casing 18, in which is a seat 19 againstlwhich the'valve is forced by a spiral spring 20, the tension of which can be adjusted by a nut 21 having an abutment 22 for the spring and perforated to receive the end of the valvestem 23.

I do not limit myself to the particular forms, described, as modifications might bedevised which would come withinV the scope of my the claims.

The operation of the s stem is as follows:

Supposing that it is desired to operate the conventionally represented' constructions and arrangements above The radiator may,

system so as to keep the radiator full of the outfiow of steam through pipe 16, to au-` tomatically throttle the infiow through "valve 8 of device C. If the system is to be opel-rind to maintain a lesser volume of steam .in the radiator, valve D will be set so as to` throttle the flow of steam through pipe 15, it being possible to automaticaly effect this regulation in accordance with temperature conditions outside of the system by means of the thermostat E,y if desired. In such case, the steam pressure in the controlling circuit F will rise until sufficient pressure, for example, two pounds to the square inch, has boon obtained to open valve G, whereupon steam will pass to the thermostat 12 and expand the same, so as to close, or partially close, valve 8. The pressure sufficient to open valve G may be fixed by a proper adjustment ofthe tension of its spring, this valve being ordinarily kept adjusted so that pressure sufficient to open it will supply only enough steam past partially closed valve D to keep the radiator only partly filled. A. closer adjustment can be more conveniently made l by manipulation of valve either arbitrarily or thermostatically. This arrangement secures a perfect control of the inflowing steam, regardless of variations of pressjire in the train ipe. It also provides a system which, at will, can be operated either to keep the radiator full of steam at atmospheric pressure or to maintain in the radiator variable volumes of steam. It also rovides means for kee ing the inlet controlling thermostat for va ve 8, which may be, and ordinarily is, located outside ofthe car, in constant or frequent contact with steam, so that it cannot easily freeze up. This is important because, Whenbut small volumes of steam arel being maintained in the radiator, the condensation will be necessarily slow and at a low temperature,` so that the likelihood of a freeze-up is increased. If a thermostat, as at E, be used, any changein the temperature of the apartment to be heated, after the initial adjustment of valve-D, will result in an automatic change of adjustment of valve D. When valve A is closed, the circulation will be only through circuit F. When valve D is 'wide open, there will not ordinarily be any substantial pressure in circuit F, and consequently valve 18 will remainv closed.

It will be noted that in my heating system this not necessary to retain the water of condensation in the radiator when the system is to be operated with a volume-of-steam less than the volumetric contents of the radiator. as shown, be open to the atmosphere and may be constructed so that the water of condensation will drain off as fast it forms. This eliminates the possiil (l bility of the Water of condensation collecting and freezing up at cold 1places in the radiating pipes or drip pipe. t also allows a more even distribution of steam throughout the entire systemof radiating Lpipes, which results in a more equable an even radiation of heat into the car than is possible in those systems which control the inlet valve by the tem erature of the water of condensation.

I' it be desired to operate the system whereby the radiating pipes will be 'filled with steam at any desired ressure from atmosheric pressure to su p y pipepressure, both inclusive, this resut can be attained by manipulation of the valve I and the valve G. i

I'V hen the system is operating at atmospheric pressure or less, it is a matter of no consequence whether or not the trap H opcrates, but, when the radiating pipes are to 'oe iilled with' the heating medium at any pressure .above atmospheric pressure, ohviously there can be no constantly open outlet to the atmosphere and the function ofthe trap II comes into play,\in the manner usual in pressure systems, to permit the discharge of water of condensation, while preventingV an undesirable loss of steam. Consequently the closing of the valve I shuts ofl'the thermostatic member ofthe controller C, thereby permitting the inlet valve 8 of the controller" C to remain wide open until steam from the circuit Ii'- obtains access to the therniostatic member l2 oi" the controller C. If the valve G be held unyieldingly to its seat, of course there will be no possibility of steam reaching .o the thermostat l2, consequently the inlet valve S will remain constantly open and the radiating pipes will be supplied with heating medium at substantially supply pipe pres--4 sure. If, however, the valve G be adiusted so as to yield and o en under any pressure in the circuit F less t an supply piperpressure, then the pressure and temperature in the radiating system and in the circuit F will rise untilsucli pressure is sufficient to open the valve G, whereupon steam will pass entirely through the circuit F, to the ,thermostatic ymember of the controller C, and the iniiow of steam will be throttled. o

It will be seen, therefore, that, 'bythe arrangement shown in my present applica- `tion@ I provide means whereby the widest range of heating efficiency `maybe attained f from the slightest heat above the. temperasupply pipe pressure.

. ..ture of the apartment when unheated,`to the highest temperature ali'orded by su Plains therari'iating pipes with heating ine ium at ln order to distinguish the parts in claiminO them, the termsradiator inletA valve or inliet valve for the radiator are used to designate valve D, or sucliother'means as may-be employed forretarding the flow of steam toA the radiator after it has passed through valve 8, which I term the supply valve. It will be' seen ,that controller C, including valve 8, affords means for automatically controlling the supply of steam taken 'from the train pipe in response to thermostatic conditions near the outlet of the radiator, when the system is running at atmospheric pressure witha full volume of steam and .that controller C,

valves G and I, trap H and their connections,

constitute together controlling means for automatically maintaining 1n the pipes, determinable volumes of steam, less than enough to iill the same, or an amount ol.

steam' sufficient to fill the same at =any desired pressure from atmospheric pressure toa pressure a proximating train 'pipe pressure.

Any well known theiinostatic device may be used for operating the valve D, such, for

example, as `the apparatus shown in 3,

in which a is the valve-piece normally held to its seat by a spring b-surrounding the valve spindlec and abutting at one end against a part of the casing and at the other against a collar on the spindle c. The spindle c is attached to a `iexibl'e diaphragm d, which is open to the atmosphere on itsunder side,

while its upper side is under the influence of' the pressure existing in the chamber e in the casilgf. Thus, according to the 'variations of pressure in this chamber, the valve piece a, wi l be moved to or away from its seat.' it

far as my invention isl concernedand is the saine thermcstatic valve operating mechanism as is shown in Patent No, 869,612. Any well known device in common use whereby a valve is actuated by a thermostat eX osed outside of the radiatormaybe used.

claim: y

1. In a heating system, the combination of a source of su ply of heating iiuid at high pressure, ara iator, a supply valve, means automatic controlling means which controls the supply valve, eitherinfaergoidance withy ymay also be operated by a threaded spindle g for retaiding the iniiow to the radiator, and

Vthermostatic conditions 'inl prolx'imityo' the discharge end of said` radiatoifi'or in accordrance witlithermostatic conditions in the system between said? supply valve and` said re- 4tarding means, accordingio ,tle adjusted'i-positioii` oi the retardingnieans.

Y 2. In a heating system, the combination oia source of su ply 4of heating fluid at high pressure, a ra iator, a supply valve, means for retarding the inflow to the radiator, and

Vav source of su pressure, a ra iator, a' supplyvalve, means automatic controlli means for controlling the supply valve, eiltier in accordance with thermostatic conditions in proximity to the discharge end of said -radiator or in accordance with thcrmostatic conditions in the systenibetweeli the supply valve and the retarding means, according to the adjusted position of the retarding means.

3; In a heating system, the combination of a 'source of supply of heating Huid atv high pressure, a radiator, a'supply valve, means for rctarding the .inflow to the radiator, a thermostat to control the supply valve in accordance with thermostatlc conditions near the outlet of the radiator, `and .a controlling circuitreceiving fluid from between the supply valve and the retarding'means and conducting the same into contact with the thermostat.

4. In a'heating system, the combination of ply of heating Huid at high for retarding the ,inflowl to the radiator, a

Y thermostat to control the supply valve in accordance with thermostatic conditions near the outlet of.' the radiator, a controlling circuit receiving fluid from between the su ply valve and t-he retarding means and condiiicting the same into contact with the thermostat, and av pressure operated valve in said circuit. j -5. The combination with a source of steam supply, of a radiator, an inlet pipe from said source oi" supply to the radiator, means for retarding the iniiow of steam to the radiator, andv means for automatically controlling `the inflow of steam'to said radiator so as to m'aintain t-he same therein in determjnably variable volume according to the adjusted position of said retarding means.

6. In combination, a radiator, an inlet pi e leading thereto, a thermostatic valve a apted to be actuated by steam from the radiator to control the low of steam to the inlet pi e, a retarding device located between t e thermostatic valveand the radiator, a shunt circuit leading from a oint' betweemsaid thermostatic device an( said retardin' device tothe actuating member of said t iermostatic valve, means forclosing said shunt circuit, said means adapted to be opened by the influence' of'steam entering said shunt circuit from said inlet pipe, all so i 'arranged that steam from the inlet pipe will How through -the radiator to the actuating of said thermostatic valve or ,through said shunt circuit to the actuating member of saidv therniostatic valve, according to the adjusted position oisaid retarding` lso 1 (,evice.

7. .The combination supply pipe arranged to furnish heating niedium thereto, and adjustable means for controlling the flow of thc heating piedium to the radiator so tha-Lat. will, the heating mcwith a radiator, of a' diuin so supplied will be sufficient, either to only partially fill said radiator at not higher than atmospheric pressure, or to completely fill the radiator at any desired pressure, ranging from atmospheric pressure to supply pipe pressure, and for automatically maintaming such predetermined conditions of volume and pressure in said radiator.

8. In a heating system, the combination of a source of supply ot heating fluid at a high pressure, a radiator, a supply valve, a throttle valve matically actuating the supply valve either in accordance with thermostatic conditions in proximity to the discharge end of said radiator or in `accordance with thermostatic conditions in the system between the inlet valve and the throttle adjusted position of said throttle valve, and a thermostat, external to the system., for controlling the position of said throttle valve` 9. The' combination of a source of supply of heating Huid at high pressure, a radiator, an inlet pipe from the source of sup )ly to the radiator, a supply valve to control the flow from the source of supply to the radiator, a throttle-valve between the radiator and the supply valve, a thermostat arranged to actuate the supply valve, a pipe arraneed to conduct steam .from the radiator to t 1e thermostat, a ipe leading from the inlet valve hetween t e supply valve and throttle valve to said thermostat, and an adjustable pressureoperated valve in said pipe capable of adjustment to close said pipe and adapted to be opened under the inline-nce of the heating fluid entering said pipe from said inlet pipe.

10. The combination of a source of supply of heating fluid at high pressure, a radiator, an inlet pipe from the source ofsup ly to the radiator, a supply valve to controlD the How from the source of supply to the radiator, a throttle valve between the radiator and the supply valve, a thermostat arranged to actuate the supply valve, a pipe arranged to conduct' steam from the radiator to the thermo' stat, a pipe leading from the inlet valve hetween the supply valve and throttle valve to said thermostat, an adjust-alle pressure-operated valve in said pipe capalxle of adjustment to close'said pipe and adapted to be opened under the influence of the heating fluid entering said pipe from said inlet pipe, a steam trap interposed in the pipe for conductingl steam from the radiator to said thermostat, and a shut-oil" valve in said last named pipe between the steam trap and thermostat.

1l. The comliination of a source of supply of heating Huid at high pressure, a radiator, lan inlet pipe from the sourceof supply to the radiator, a supply valve to control theiiow from the source of supply to the radiator, a

throttle valve between the radiator and the supply valve, a thermostat arranged to acfor the radiator, means for autovalve, according to the A tuate the Supply valve, a pipe arranged to conduct steam from the radiator to the thermostat, a pipe leading from'the inlet valve between the supply valve and throttle valve to said` thermostat, an adjustable pressure-i mostatfa shut-off valve in said laiitfnamed pipe between the steam trap and thermostat, a thermostat external to the heatingl systemJ and connections between said last-named thermostat and said throttle valve, whereby said throttle valve may be actuated hy said last named thermostat.

EGBERT H. GOLD. Witnesses:

G. Y. SKINNER, E. BREIDERT.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 929,934, granted August 3, 1909, upon the application of Egbert H. Gold, of Chicago, Illinois, for an. improvement. in Variable-Volume Heating Systems, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 107, page 1, after the word vapor the word regulator should be inserted, and page 2, line 123, the word this should read it and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of August, A. D., 1909.

[SEAL] F. A. TENNANT,

Acting Commission? of Polenta. 

